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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: press · ball · rash · pass · fine · rest · current · swing

  1. Don't do anything ________________.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. David sat on the ________________.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. rash — hasty
  2. pass — a permit
  3. ball — a great time
  4. current — electric
  5. current — of water
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. press — newspapers
  8. rest — what's left
  9. ball — a dance
  10. fine — all right
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. press — to push
  13. rest — what's left
  14. rest — a break
  15. swing — music
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. fine — high quality
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. swing — to play on
  20. current — happening now
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. rash — a series
  23. press — a publisher
  24. swing — in golf

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com